How to Make Copper Sulphate In Distilled Water

Written by sean lancaster

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Learn to make copper sulphate solutions based on the concentration you need. (Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images)

Copper sulphate is a reagent used in many applications. It serves as an algicide for aquarium operators and as a plating solution for the copper plating industry. The standard solvent for a copper sulphate solution is distilled water. The distilled water ensures that there are no other salts contaminating the solution. Depending on the concentration of copper sulphate solution you need, you may have to use a different technique than just adding the copper sulphate crystals to distilled water.

Skill level:

Moderately Challenging

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Things you need

Goggles

Latex gloves

Beaker

Distilled water

Copper sulphate pentahydrate

Stir rod

Heating plate

Citric acid crystals

Ice bath

Thermometer

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Instructions

Direct Addition

1

Put on your goggles and latex gloves. These items are safety equipment that will prevent any injury to you. Some of the reagents used in the preparation of copper sulphate can cause burns or skin irritation.

2

Place a beaker in the laboratory bench. Choose an appropriate size beaker that holds twice the amount of solution than what you need to make.

3

Add the amount of distilled water for your solution to the beaker. Pour the water into the beaker slowly to avoid spilling any over the sides.

4

Weigh out the amount of copper sulphate required to make the concentration of solution that you require. Copper sulphate is slightly soluble in water, so if you need a greater concentration than approximately 100g per litre, select a different method for generating the solution.

5

Add the copper sulphate to the distilled water and stir with a stirring rod until all the crystals have dissolved in the distilled water.

6

Heat the solution using a heating plate if necessary to get the crystals to dissolve. The heat will allow more crystals to dissolve in the water; however, you run the risk of obtaining a super saturated solution that will precipitate out crystals as it cools.

Using Citric Acid

1

Complete the first three steps for the previous method.

2

Weigh out the amount of copper sulphate required and an equal amount of citric acid crystals. Citric acid helps the copper sulphate dissolve in water and provides a stabilising effect to the resulting solution.

3

Add the citric acid and copper sulphate to the beaker of water. Stir with a stirring rod until all the solid dissolves.